A Royal Marine described by Prince Harry as a 'real hero' is appealing against the compensation he received for losing an arm and a leg in Afghanistan.

Marine Ben McBean was awarded £281,150 and a pension by the Ministry of Defence after being horrifically wounded in an explosion in February last year.

The 22-year-old's family said he was going to an independent tribunal later this month to increase his compensation, arguing the Ministry of Defence did not consider the full extent of his injuries.

Under the MoD's existing compensation scheme, lump sum payments for the most serious injuries are capped at £570,000.

It has emerged that the MoD has only offered to pay out for the eight most serious wounds - and for six of those he has been awarded the minimum tariff.

Prince Harry expressed admiration for Royal
Marine Ben McBean (left) who lost an arm and a leg fighting in Afghanistan

Marine McBean's mother, Joyce McDonald, said her son - from Plymouth,
Devon, and who is still in the Royal Marines - needed surgery to
prevent his injuries from deteriorating.

She told the Daily Telegraph: 'Ben has gone through a hell of a lot and he is still going through it. He has done so much for these people, he deserves a hell of a lot more.'

His stepfather James Cockburn added: 'We're going to a tribunal on August 19, but don't expect to get anywhere because it's the system that is at fault.

'We understand the country's going through hard times at the moment but these fit and strong young lads like Ben went to war on the understanding they would be looked after, and the payments they come back to when something happens to them are just a joke.'

Harry, who had completed his own tour of duty in Afghanistan, said he was 'humbled' by his bravery and described him as the real hero.

News of Marine McBean's action comes as the Government is attempting to reduce the compensation for two servicemen.

The MoD last week went to the High Court to challenge tribunal rulings which increased the payouts to two soldiers who developed medical complications after treatment for their initial injuries.

Marine Matthew McWilliams broke a leg on a training exercise and saw his payment increased from £8,250 to £28,750 to recognise problems which developed after his initial treatment.

And Corporal Anthony Duncan, of the Light Dragoons, was shot in the leg by a high-velocity round in Iraq in 2005 and won an increase in compensation from £9,250 to £46,000 after complications from surgery.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said action to challenge the tribunal decisions was necessary to protect the principle that those with the worst injuries should receive the largest payouts.

Commenting on Marine McBean's appeal, an MoD spokesman said: 'The most seriously injured are given an up-front, lump-sum payment and also receive a tax-free, index-linked monthly Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) for life.

'Over the course of a lifetime, the GIP typically exceeds the amount given in the lump sum.'